New York Times Apologizes for 'Victim' Framing in Article on Israeli Film

The New York Times has issued a correction and apology for a phrase in an article about the Israeli documentary "N.A.Z.A." which sparked significant criticism. The original article, published on September 14, stated that Israelis "still largely consider themselves victims of October 7." This wording was removed, and the newspaper added a note explaining the error.

The article, by Isabel Kershner, discussed the reaction in Israel to "N.A.Z.A.," a film by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore focusing on alleged Israeli military actions in Gaza. The controversial phrase appeared after a paragraph noting differing Israeli opinions on the failures preceding the October 7 Hamas attack. Critics, including the media watchdog group CAMERA, argued that the phrase implied the status of Israelis as victims was a matter of subjective perception rather than fact, given that approximately 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage in the attack.

In a note added on September 16, the NYT editors stated that an editing error led to the inclusion of a phrase that was intended to describe Israelis' perception of the government's response but "unintentionally created the impression" that their experience as victims was subjective. The newspaper acknowledged that the original phrasing conveyed a meaning different from the authors' intent, though the article's overall subject, the controversy surrounding the film, remains unchanged.

The film "N.A.Z.A." itself garnered significant attention at the Venice Film Festival, receiving a record-breaking 24-minute standing ovation and a special jury prize. It features interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and military intelligence personnel whose identities are concealed. The filmmakers claim their evidence traces how the Israeli army selected targets in Gaza, with a role for technology and big data analysis. The Israeli military disputes several claims in the film, asserting that human decision-making, not AI, approves targets.

In Israel, the film has been met with outrage, with accusations that it distorts military practices and ignores the context of Hamas's initial attack. The NYT article itself presented both sides, including criticism from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who called the film a "blood libel," and Culture Minister Miki Zohar's suggestion to investigate revoking the filmmakers' citizenship. Abraham, however, urged Israelis to watch the film before judging it.

This incident occurs amid broader discussions about the New York Times's coverage of the war. A Yale study analyzing NYT articles from October 7, 2023, to June 7, 2024, concluded that the paper gave more attention to Palestinian casualties than Israeli ones and insufficiently covered Hamas's role in prolonging the conflict.